Timeline of the US Navy

Commanders and Chronology of US Naval Squadrons

Commanders

January 1 1861 – April 11 1861

African Squadron: William Inman
Brazil Squadron: Joshua Ratoon Sands
East Indian (Asiatic) Squadron: Cornelius Kinchiloe Stribling
European Squadron: vacant
Home Squadron: Garrett J Prendergast
Mediterranean Squadron: Charles H Bell
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery

April 12 1861 – April 26 1861

Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery

April 27 1861 – May 3 1861

Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Potomac Flotilla: James Harmon Ward

May 4 1861 – May 5 1861

Coast Blockading Squadron: Silas Horton Stringham
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Potomac Flotilla: James Harmon Ward

May 6 1861 – May 15 1861

Coast Blockading Squadron: Silas Horton Stringham
Gulf Blockading Squadron: William Mervine
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Potomac Flotilla: James Harmon Ward

May 16 1861 – May 16 1861

Coast Blockading Squadron: Silas Horton Stringham
Gulf Blockading Squadron: William Mervine
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Western Gunboat Flotilla: John Rodgers
Potomac Flotilla: James Harmon Ward

May 17 1861 – June 7 1861

Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Silas Horton Stringham
Gulf Blockading Squadron: William Mervine
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Western Gunboat Flotilla: John Rodgers
Potomac Flotilla: James Harmon Ward

June 8 1861 – June 26 1861

Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Silas Horton Stringham
Gulf Blockading Squadron: William Mervine
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
West Indies Squadron: Garrett J Pendergrast
Western Gunboat Flotilla: John Rodgers
Potomac Flotilla: James Harmon Ward

June 27 1861 – July 9 1861

July 10 1861 – August 29 1861

August 30 1861 – September 17 1861

Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Silas Horton Stringham
Gulf Blockading Squadron: William Mervine
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Andrew Hull Foote
Potomac Flotilla: Thomas Tingey Craven

September 18 1861 – September 21 1861

Atlantic Blockading Squadron: vacant
Gulf Blockading Squadron: William Mervine
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Andrew Hull Foote
Potomac Flotilla: Thomas Tingey Craven

September 22 1861

Atlantic Blockading Squadron: vacant
Gulf Blockading Squadron: William McKean
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Andrew Hull Foote
Potomac Flotilla: Thomas Tingey Craven

September 23 1861 – October 28 1861

Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
Gulf Blockading Squadron: William McKean
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Andrew Hull Foote
Potomac Flotilla: Thomas Tingey Craven

October 29 1861 – December 1 1861

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Francis Du Pont
Gulf Blockading Squadron: William McKean
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Andrew Hull Foote
Potomac Flotilla: Thomas Tingey Craven

December 2 1861 – December 5 1861

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Francis Du Pont ~
Gulf Blockading Squadron: William McKean
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Andrew Hull Foote
Potomac Flotilla: Abram D Harrell

December 6 1861 – January 1 1862

January 2 1862 – January 19 1862

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Francis Du Pont
Gulf Blockading Squadron: William McKean
Pacific Squadron: Charles H Bell
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Andrew Hull Foote
Potomac Flotilla: Robert Harris Wyman

January 20 1862 – May 8 1862

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Francis Du Pont
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: William McKean
Pacific Squadron: Charles H Bell
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Andrew Hull Foote
Potomac Flotilla: Robert Harris Wyman

May 9 1862 – June 3 1862

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Francis Du Pont
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: William McKean
Pacific Squadron: Charles H Bell
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Charles Henry Davis
Potomac Flotilla: Robert Harris Wyman

June 4 1862 – June 30 1862

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Francis Du Pont
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: James Lawrence Lardner
Pacific Squadron: Charles H Bell
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Charles Henry Davis
Potomac Flotilla: Robert Harris Wyman

July 1 1862 – August 31 1862

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Francis Du Pont
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: James Lawrence Lardner
Pacific Squadron: Charles H Bell
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Charles Henry Davis
Potomac Flotilla: Samuel Magaw

September 1 1862 – September 5 1862

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Francis Du Pont
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: James Lawrence Lardner
Pacific Squadron: Charles H Bell
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Charles Henry Davis
Potomac Flotilla: Charles Wilkes

September 6 1862 – September 9 1862

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Francis Du Pont
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: James Lawrence Lardner
Pacific Squadron: Charles H Bell
Western Gunboat Flotilla: Charles Henry Davis
Potomac Flotilla: Charles Wilkes

September 10 1862 – October 14 1862

October 15 1862 – December 8 1862

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Francis Du Pont
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: James Lawrence Lardner
Pacific Squadron: Charles H Bell
Mississippi River Squadron: David Dixon Porter
Potomac Flotilla: Andrew Allen Harwood

December 9 1862 – July 5 1863

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Francis Du Pont
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: Theodorus Bailey
Pacific Squadron: Charles H Bell
Mississippi River Squadron: David Dixon Porter
Potomac Flotilla: Andrew Allen Harwood

July 6 1863 – July 30 1864

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: Theodorus Bailey
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Mississippi River Squadron: David Dixon Porter
Potomac Flotilla: Andrew Allen Harwood

July 31 1864 – August 6 1864

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: Theodorus Bailey
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Mississippi River Squadron: Alexander Moseley Pennock
Potomac Flotilla: Andrew Allen Harwood

August 7 1864 – October 11 1864

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: Theodore Phinney Green
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Mississippi River Squadron: Alexander Moseley Pennock
Potomac Flotilla: Andrew Allen Harwood

October 12 1864 – October 24 1864

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: David Dixon Porter
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: Cornelius Kinchiloe Stribling
Pacific Squadron: John Berrien Montgomery
Mississippi River Squadron: Alexander Moseley Pennock
Potomac Flotilla: Andrew Allen Harwood

October 25 1864 – October 31 1864

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: David Dixon Porter
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: Cornelius Kinchiloe Stribling
Pacific Squadron: George Frederick Pearson
Mississippi River Squadron: Alexander Moseley Pennock
Potomac Flotilla: Andrew Allen Harwood

November 1 1864 – November 29 1864

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: David Dixon Porter
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: David Glasgow Farragut
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: Cornelius Kinchiloe Stribling
Pacific Squadron: George Frederick Pearson
Mississippi River Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
Potomac Flotilla: Andrew Allen Harwood

November 30 1864 – December 30 1864

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: David Dixon Porter
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: James Shedden Palmer
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: Cornelius Kinchiloe Stribling
Pacific Squadron: George Frederick Pearson
Mississippi River Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
Potomac Flotilla: Andrew Allen Harwood

December 31 1864 – February 22 1865

February 23 1865 – April 27 1865

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: David Dixon Porter
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: Henry Knox Thatcher
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: Cornelius Kinchiloe Stribling
Pacific Squadron: George Frederick Pearson
Mississippi River Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
Potomac Flotilla: Foxhall Alexander Parker

April 28 1865 – June 11 1865

North Atlantic Blockading Squadron: William Radford
South Atlantic Blockading Squadron: John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren
West Gulf Blockading Squadron: Henry Knox Thatcher
East Gulf Blockading Squadron: Cornelius Kinchiloe Stribling
Pacific Squadron: George Frederick Pearson
Mississippi River Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
Potomac Flotilla: Foxhall Alexander Parker

June 12 1865 – July 17 1865

South Atlantic Squadron: Sylvanus W Godon
Gulf Squadron: Henry Knox Thatcher
Pacific Squadron: George Frederick Pearson
West Indies Squadron: James Shedden Palmer
Mississippi River Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
Potomac Flotilla: Foxhall Alexander Parker

July 18 1865 – July 24 1865

South Atlantic Squadron: Sylvanus W Godon
Gulf Squadron: Henry Knox Thatcher
Pacific Squadron: George Frederick Pearson
West Indies Squadron: James Shedden Palmer
European Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
Mississippi River Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
Potomac Flotilla: Foxhall Alexander Parker

July 25 1865 – July 30 1865

Atlantic Squadron: William Radford
Gulf Squadron: Henry Knox Thatcher
Pacific Squadron: George Frederick Pearson
West Indies Squadron: James Shedden Palmer
European Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
Mississippi River Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee
Potomac Flotilla: Foxhall Alexander Parker

July 31 1865 – August 12 1865

Atlantic Squadron: William Radford
Gulf Squadron: Henry Knox Thatcher
Pacific Squadron: George Frederick Pearson
West Indies Squadron: James Shedden Palmer
European Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
East Indian (Asiatic) Squadron: Henry H Bell
Mississippi River Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee

August 13 1865 – August 13 1865

Atlantic Squadron: William Radford
Gulf Squadron: Henry Knox Thatcher
Pacific Squadron: George Frederick Pearson
West Indies Squadron: James Shedden Palmer
European Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
East Indian (Asiatic) Squadron: Henry H Bell
Brazil Squadron: Sylvanus W Godon
Mississippi River Squadron: Samuel Phillips Lee

August 14 1865 – December 31 1865

Atlantic Squadron: William Radford
Gulf Squadron: Henry Knox Thatcher
Pacific Squadron: George Frederick Pearson
West Indies Squadron: James Shedden Palmer
European Squadron: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough
East Indian (Asiatic) Squadron: Henry H Bell
Brazil Squadron: Sylvanus W Godon

Chronology

January 1 1861: The African Squadron was commanded by William Inman.

January 1 1861: The Brazil Squadron was commanded by Joshua Ratoon Sands.

January 1 1861: The East Indian (or Asiatic) Squadron was commanded by Cornelius Kinchiloe Stribling.

January 1 1861: Command of the European Squadron was vacant.

January 1 1861: The Home Squadron was commanded by Garrett J Prendergast.

January 1 1861: The Mediterranean Squadron was commanded by Charles H Bell.

January 1 1861: The Pacific Squadron was commanded by John Berrien Montgomery.

April 12 1861: The African Squadron was suspended for the duration of hostilities.

April 12 1861: The Brazil Squadron was suspended for the duration of hostilities.

April 12 1861: The East Indian (or Asiatic) Squadron was suspended for the duration of hostilities.

April 12 1861: The European Squadron was suspended for the duration of hostilities.

April 12 1861: The Home Squadron was suspended for the duration of hostilities.

April 12 1861: The Mediterranean Squadron was suspended for the duration of hostilities.

April 12 1861: The Pacific Squadron continued under the command of John Berrien Montgomery.

April 27 1861: The Potomac Flotilla, or “Flying Flotilla”, was established to operate in the Chesapeake and its tributaries.

April 27 1861: James Harmon Ward assumed command of the “Flying Flotilla” or Potomac Flotilla.

May 4 1861: The Coast Blockading Squadron was established to patrol the coasts of the seceded Southern States.

May 4 1861: Silas Horton Stringham assumed command of the Coast Blockading Squadron.

May 6 1861: The Gulf Blockading Squadron was established to patrol the coasts west of the southern extremity of Florida.

May 6 1861: William Mervine assumed command of the Gulf Blockading Squadron.

May 6 1861: The patrol of the Coast Blockading Squadron was confined to the coasts east and north of Florida.

May 16 1861: The Union Western Gunboat Flotilla was formed under the command of the Union Army to operate in support of the armies on western rivers.

May 16 1861: John Rodgers assumed command of the Western Gunboat Flotilla.

May 17 1861: The Coast Blockading Squadron was discontinued and renamed the Atlantic Blockading Squadron

May 17 1861: Silas Horton Stringham assumed command of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

June 27 1861: Stephen Clegg Rowan assumed interim command of the Potomac Flotilla, succeeding James Harmon Ward.

July 10 1861: Thomas Tingey Craven assumed command of the Potomac Flotilla, succeeding Stephen Clegg Rowan.

August 30 1861: Andrew Hull Foote assumed command of the Western Gunboat Flotilla, succeeding John Rodgers.

September 18 1861: Command of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron became vacant after the resignation of Silas Horton Stringham.

September 22 1861: William McKean assumed command of the Gulf Blockading Squadron, succeeding William Mervine.

September 23 1861: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough assumed command of the Atlantic Blockading Squadron, succeeding Silas Horton Stringham.

October 29 1861: The Atlantic Blockading Squadron was discontinued and its patrols divided between the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron and South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, with the dividing point being Cape Fear in North Carolina.

October 29 1861: North Atlantic Blockading Squadron was established.

October 29 1861: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough assumed command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

October 29 1861: South Atlantic Blockading Squadron was established.

October 29 1861: Samuel Francis Du Pont assumed command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

December 2 1861: Abram D Harrell assumed interim command of the Potomac Flotilla, succeeding Thomas Tingey Craven.

December 6 1861: Robert Harris Wyman assumed command of the Potomac Flotilla, succeeding Abram D Harrell.

January 2 1862: Charles H Bell assumed command of the Pacific Squadron.

January 20 1862: The Gulf Blockading Squadron was discontinued and its patrol area divided between the East Gulf Blockading Squadron and West Gulf Blockading Squadron, with the dividing point being east of Pensacola.

January 20 1862: The East Gulf Blockading Squadron was established to patrol from east of Pensacola to the southern extremity of Florida.

January 20 1862: William McKean assumed command of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron.

January 20 1862: The West Gulf Blockading Squadron was established to patrol from Pensacola to the coast of Mexico.

January 20 1862: David Glasgow Farragut assumed command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron.

May 9 1862: Charles Henry Davis assumed command of the Western Gunboat Flotilla, succeeding Andrew Hull Foote.

June 4 1862: James Lawrence Lardner assumed command of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, succeeding William McKean.

July 1 1862: – Samuel Magaw assumed interim command of the Potomac Flotilla, succeeding Robert Harris Wyman.

September 1 1862: Charles Wilkes assumed command of the Potomac Flotilla, succeeding – Samuel Magaw

September 6 1862: Samuel Phillips Lee assumed command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, succeeding Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough.

September 10 1862: Andrew Allen Harwood assumed command of the Potomac Flotilla, succeeding Charles Wilkes.

October 15 1862: The Western Gunboat Flotilla was discontinued and command of its forces formally transferred from the operational direction of the US Army to the US Navy.

October 15 1862: The Mississippi River Squadron was established from the former Western Gunboat Flotilla.

October 15 1862: David Dixon Porter assumed command of the Mississippi River Squadron, succeeding Charles Henry Davis.

December 9 1862: Theodorus Bailey assumed command of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, succeeding James Lawrence Lardner.

July 6 1863: John Adolphus Bernard Dahlgren assumed command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, succeeding Samuel Francis Du Pont.

July 31 1864: Alexander Moseley Pennock assumed temporary command of the Mississippi River Squadron, succeeding David Dixon Porter.

August 7 1864: Theodore Phinney Green assumed command of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, succeeding Theodorus Bailey.
October 4 1864: George Frederick Pearson assumed command of the Pacific Squadron.
October 12 1864: David Dixon Porter assumed command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, succeeding Samuel Phillips Lee.

October 12 1864: Cornelius Kinchiloe Stribling assumed command of the East Gulf Blockading Squadron, succeeding Theodore Phinney Green.

October 25 1864: George Frederick Pearson assumed command of the Pacific Squadron.

November 1 1864: Samuel Phillips Lee assumed command of the Mississippi River Squadron, succeeding Alexander Moseley Pennock.

November 30 1864: James Shedden Palmer assumed command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, succeeding David Glasgow Farragut.

December 31 1864: Foxhall Alexander Parker assumed command of the Potomac Flotilla, succeeding Andrew Allen Harwood.

February 23 1865: Henry Knox Thatcher assumed command of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron, succeeding James Shedden Palmer.

April 28 1865: William Radford assumed command of the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron, succeeding David Dixon Porter.

June 12 1865: The East Gulf Blockading Squadron was discontinued and merged into the Gulf Squadron.

June 12 1865: The West Gulf Blockading Squadron was discontinued and merged into the Gulf Squadron.

June 12 1865: The Gulf Squadron was re-established.

June 12 1865: Henry K Thatcher assumed command of the Gulf Squadron.

June 12 1865: The African Squadron was discontinued and merged into the South Atlantic Squadron.

June 12 1865: The Brazil Squadron was discontinued and merged into the South Atlantic Squadron.

June 12 1865: The North Atlantic Blockading Squadron was discontinued and merged into the South Atlantic Squadron.

June 12 1865: The South Atlantic Blockading Squadron was discontinued and merged into the South Atlantic Squadron.

June 12 1865: The South Atlantic Squadron was established.

June 12 1865: Sylvanus W Godon assumed command of the South Atlantic Squadron.

June 12 1865: The West Indies Squadron was reactivated.

June 12 1865: James Shedden Palmer resumed command of the West Indies Squadron.

July 18 1865: The Union Mediterranean Squadron was discontinued and combined in the European Squadron.

July 18 1865: The European Squadron was reactivated.

July 18 1865: Louis Malesherbes Goldsborough assumed command of the European Squadron.

July 25 1865: The Atlantic Squadron was re-established.

July 25 1865: The South Atlantic Blockading Squadron was discontinued and merged into the Atlantic Squadron.

July 25 1865: The North Atlantic Blockading Squadron was discontinued and merged into the Atlantic Squadron.

July 25 1865: William Radford assumed command of the Atlantic Squadron.

July 31 1865: The Potomac Flotilla was discontinued.

July 31 1865: The East Indian Squadron was reactivated.

July 31 1865: Henry H Bell assumed command of the East Indian Squadron, later renamed the Asiatic Squadron.

August 14 1865: The Mississippi River Squadron was discontinued.

Commanders and Chronology of US Naval Squadrons

Commanders

Chronology

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